1

The US touches three oceans

Image: Daiwei Lu

Most people remember the Atlantic and the Pacific, but the Arctic often gets overlooked. Alaska’s northern edge dips into icy Arctic waters, technically giving the US access to all three. From sunbathing to snowshoeing, we’ve got the full spectrum of ocean vibes covered!

2

America has the shortest river in the world

Image: Gaurav Kumar

Montana is home to the Roe River, which runs for just 201 feet. That’s shorter than a city block! It flows from its source at Giant Springs to the Missouri River near Great Falls. Sure, it’s not as mighty as the Mississippi, but it holds the record for shortest river, and that’s enough to brag about.

3

Some NYC buildings are big enough to have their own zip codes

Image: Andrew Jephson

Most of us share a zip code with our neighbors. In New York City, though, some skyscrapers are so massive they have one all to themselves. You know the Empire State Building? Yep, it has its own zip code: 10118. The same goes for the MetLife and Chrysler Buildings. Manhattan alone has over 300 zip codes!

4

Alaska is the westernmost and easternmost state

Image: Rod Long

That’s right: Alaska holds the title as both the farthest west and farthest east state in the United States. How is that possible? Well, the Aleutian Islands, which belong to Alaska, stretch so far out that they cross the International Date Line and enter the Eastern Hemisphere. Isn’t that just fascinating?

5

From Stamford, CT, all roads lead to New York

Image: Matt Foxx

Picture this: no matter which direction you drive—north, south, east, or west— you can end up in New York if you start in Stamford, Connecticut. Heading east requires a boat, of course, but it still counts!

6

Florida and California don’t have the longest coastline

Image: Jakob Owens

Think sun and sand, and Florida or California might come to mind. But the state with the longest coastline is actually Alaska, by a long shot. With over 6,600 miles of shoreline, it beats the combined coastlines of all other states. Snow lovers will enjoy this one!

7

California has almost as many people as all of Canada

Image: Joseph Chan

Yes, the Golden State is that packed. California’s population hovers around 39 million, not enough to beat Canada, which has roughly 41 million. But give it two more years, and we’ll discuss this again. This may not sound so surprising, but bear in mind that we’re comparing a single state to a whole country!

8

Only two states are truly off on their own

Image: Dave Hoefler

Most states have neighbors, but that’s not the case for Alaska and Hawaii. They’re the loners of the country, separated by either the ocean or international borders. Meanwhile, Missouri and Tennessee are the social butterflies of the map, each touching eight other states. Whatever the number of neighbors, we love them all!

9

The four largest US cities (by area) are in Alaska

Image: Kedar Gadge

When we talk about big cities, most folks think of population. But if you’re measuring square miles, Alaska takes the cake. Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage are the four largest cities by land area. You could fit entire states inside some of these!

10

The first US capital wasn’t D.C. or Philly

Image: Florian Wehde

Washington, D.C., may be the capital now, but it wasn’t the first, you know? That honor goes to New York City, which held the title for a couple of years after the Constitution was ratified. The capital later moved to Philadelphia and then finally settled in D.C.

11

Los Angeles had a name as long as your arm

Image: Roberto Nickson

Before it was known for Hollywood, Los Angeles had a name that would never fit on a postcard. The original Spanish settlers called it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula . Translation? You try saying that! Thankfully, we shortened it. "L.A." is just easier for everyone.

12

Nebraska is the only triply landlocked state

Image: Laura Seaman

If you’re in Nebraska and want to see the ocean, you’ll have to cross at least three states. That makes it the most landlocked state in the U.S.—"triply landlocked," to be exact. For those craving a beach day, that’s a bit of a hike. But for folks who love open plains, it’s prime real estate.

1

2008 Beijing Olympic Games - Michael Phelps

Image: Thomas Park

Winning a gold medal in the Olympic Games is, by itself, a huge achievement and a dream come true for any elite athlete. Repeating this feat is something that very few have achieved, and doing so has elevated these individuals to legendary status.

Now, imagine winning not one, not two, but eight gold medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games . This unimaginable feat was accomplished by the now-famous swimmer Michael Phelps. This remains the greatest individual achievement in one edition of the Olympic Games by any Team USA athlete.

2

1936 Munich Olympic Games - Jesse Owens

Image: Braden Collum

Another legendary Olympic moment took place many years before Michael Phelps was even born, when Jesse Owens, a Black athlete, won four gold medals in the 1936 Munich Olympic Games.

Despite competing on very controversial ground at the time, Owens blazed his way to Olympic glory and secured his place in the pantheon of the greatest American athletes.

3

Cuba to Florida Swim - Diana Nyad

Image: Matt Hardy

If you see the distance between Miami and Havana on a map, it doesn’t seem all that far. That is until you start approaching and realize that there are 110 miles between these two places. Believe it or not, this journey has been swum three times. The first two crossings involved a shark cage and several short rests.

The third person to achieve this milestone was Diana Nyad, who completed the swim on her fifth attempt at age 64 in 2013 . Nyad used a protective jellyfish suit, shark divers, and electronic shark-repellent devices to achieve an "unassisted" swim.

4

50 Marathons in 50 Days

Image: Pietro Rampazzo

Running a marathon is an impressive feat of endurance and strength for almost any human being. Running two marathons in two consecutive days is nearly impossible for anyone. Now, imagine running 50 marathons across 50 American states in 50 consecutive days.

That incredible accomplishment was achieved by Los Angeles native Dean Karnazes , beginning with the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Louis on September 17, 2006 , and finishing with the New York City Marathon on November 5 . A bit too much, maybe?

5

1968 Mexico City Olympic Games - Bob Beamon

Image: Gabriel Sanchez

On the rarest of occasions, humans are capable of physical achievements that defy what the human body is capable of doing. During the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Bob Beamon broke the world record for men’slong jump with an incredible jump of 29 feet, 2.25 inches . Yes, that is almost 30 feet.

There was a delay in posting the distance, and Beamon didn’t know what the metric figure that finally appeared on the board equated to in feet and inches. When a teammate told him he had jumped over 29 feet, he collapsed on the track from the realization of what he had accomplished.

6

2017 Australian US Open - Serena Williams

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Winning a world tennis championship is a significant achievement for any tennis player. That is, unless you are a tennis player so accomplished that winning these tournaments is as regular as anything. The list of people who do that is very short, and the names on it are all very well known.

One of those names is, without a doubt, Serena Williams. Possibly the greatest female tennis player ever, she won the 2017 Australian Open . This fact alone may not seem out of place for such an athlete. But what sets it apart is the fact that she did so while pregnant .

7

17 minutes without breathing - David Blaine

Image: Jakob Owens

How long can you hold your breath underwater? Trained individuals can achieve very impressive results in this field, but one feat that stands out is the one accomplished by American illusionist David Blaine, who, on September 8, 2008, set a world record for static apnoea, by holding his breath underwater inside a tank for 17 minutes and 4.5 seconds.

Blaine is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance and has set and broken several world records. These include standing for 35 hours on a 100-foot-high pillar only 22 inches wide in 2002 and sitting in a clear Perspex box for 44 days in 2003 without eating and drinking only water.

8

900 spin - Tony Hawk

Image: Devin Avery

In the world of skating, a 360 is the name given to a stunt performed by executing a mid-air spin on the board. This is a complicated trick, achieved only by very experienced skaters. A 720 is a stunt performed by doing not one, but two mid-air spins on the board. As one can imagine, this is exponentially more difficult than a 360, and very few people can pull off this stunt.

Now, if we mention a 900, you might guess where we are going. This involves not one, not two, but two and a half mid-air spins on the board. This insanely difficult stunt was first performed (at least publicly) by Tony Hawk, the skateboard champion, at the 1999 X Games, cementing his status as a skateboarding legend.

9

2008 U.S. Open - Tiger Woods

Image: Will Porada

Tiger Woods is a familiar name in the sports world. He has won 14 major golf championships and achieved a level of superstardom seldom seen in the game. However, the one we are choosing to highlight today displays an extraordinary amount of tolerance to pain in the face of competition.

During the 2008 U.S. Open, he played a total of 91 holes with a torn ACL and double stress fractures in his left leg . With a course set up to give players the toughest test of golf imaginable, the U.S. Open is hard enough as it is. Add in debilitating leg injuries, plus 19 extra holes (thanks to a playoff with Rocco Mediate), and you have one of the greatest showings of pain tolerance in the history of tournament golf.

10

El Capitan Free Solo Climb - Alex Honnold

Image: Jessica Tuttle

Imagine climbing a huge stone wall approximately 3,000 feet high in less than four hours. Now imagine doing that, without any kind of ropes or safety equipment. That is exactly what Alex Honnold did on June 3, 2017, when he made the first-ever free solo ascent of El Capitan by completing Alex Huber's 2,900-foot big wall route, Freerider, in 3 hours and 56 minutes.

The climb, described as "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever," was documented by climber and photographer Jimmy Chin and documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi, as the subject of the documentary Free Solo which, among other awards, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2018.

1

"Mad tight"

Image: Andre Benz

Where it is used: New Jersey / New York

In the Northeastern U.S., particularly in New Jersey and New York, "mad tight" is used to describe something that's very cool or impressive. For example, "That concert was mad tight!" This usage reflects the region's tendency to intensify expressions for emphasis.

2

"Lagniappe"

Image: Joe Lavigne

Where it is used: Louisiana

In Louisiana, "lagniappe" refers to a little something extra, often given as a bonus. A French Creole term derived from a Quechua word, this quirky expression reflects the state’s rich cultural blend and tradition of generous hospitality.

3

"Bless your heart"

Image: Dani Guitarra

Where it is used: Southern United States

In the South, "bless your heart" can be a genuine expression of sympathy or, depending on the tone, a polite way to say someone is naive. This phrase highlights the region's emphasis on politeness and layered communication.

4

"Pop"

Image: Troy Coroles

Where it is used: Midwest and parts of the Northeast

In many Midwestern and Northeastern states, "pop" is the preferred term for a carbonated soft drink. Conversely, in the South, "coke" is commonly used to refer to any type of soda, regardless of brand.

5

"Spodie"

Image: wes lewis

Where it is used: Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Seattle, a "spodie" is an outdoor high school party where attendees share a large container of mixed alcohol and sugary drinks.

6

"Wicked"

Image: Venti Views

Where it is used: New England

In New England, especially in Massachusetts, "wicked" is used as an intensifier, meaning very . For example, "It's wicked cold outside." This usage is a distinctive feature of the New England dialect.

7

"Fixin' to"

Image: Adiel Gavish

Where it is used: Southern United States

In the South, "fixin' to" means preparing to do something soon. For instance, "I'm fixin' to go to the store."

8

"Hella"

Image: Scott Webb

Where it is used: Northern California

In Northern California, particularly in the Bay Area, "hella" is used to mean a lot or very. For example, "That party was hella fun." While scholars aren’t certain whether it originated as a contraction of "hell of a" or from the similarly used word "hellacious," it remains a hallmark of local vernacular.

9

"Y'all"

Image: Helena Lopes

Where it is used: Southern United States

"Y'all" is a contraction of "you all" and is commonly used in the South to address a group. It's a defining feature of Southern speech and culture.

10

"Jawn"

Image: Heidi Kaden

Where it is used: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"Jawn" is a versatile term from Philadelphia that can refer to anything —a person, place, or thing. For instance, "Pass me that jawn over there." According to some sources, it originated as a slang pronunciation of the word "joint" in African American Vernacular English.